how to concatenate in PL/SQL

Hi,

I need to create a function to concatenate first name, blank, last name from employee table...
It should return the concatenated value...
and also i have to check for exceptions...

have to then call it using sleect command

select name||address|city||whatever
from your_table.

Use the double pipe ("||") to concatenate (as one way). Another is to append strings to strings, but since you're using a select, the "||" method will suit your needs.

hey,
thanks..I kind of got that working..

i have another Q for u..
I have to write a PROCEDURE called DISCOUNT_ORDERS which gives X percent discount for all Y orders whose shipping date is more than Y days from the order date. The procedure takes X% and Ydays as input paramters...I am asked to display only orders who get a discount....It should display order id, order date, ship date, and discount amount and update total of all orders...
I tried to create a function first and then thought of calling the function frlom preocdure...doesnt look like it works....can u help here?

---------------------------------------------------------------
> SQL> Create or replace function DISCOUNT(p_diff IN number)
>
> 2 RETURN number IS
> 3 p_disamt number(2,2);
> 4 p_newamt number(5,2);
> 5 max_day :=15;
> 6 min_day :=5;
> 7 max_dis :=10;
> 8 min_dis :=5;
> 9 BEGIN
> 10 SELECT total INTO p_total from sales_order;
> 11 If(p_diff=min_day)
> 12 THEN
> 13 p_disamt :=(p_total * (min_dis/100));
> 14 p_newamt :=(p_total - p_disamt);
> 15 ELSIF(p_diff>=max_day)
> 16 THEN p_disamt :=(p_total *(max_dis/100));
> 17 p_newamt :=(p_total - p_disamt);
> 18 ELS p_disamt :=0;
> 19 END IF;
> 20 /
>


TABLE USED:
CREATE TABLE sales_order (
order_id NUMBER(4) NOT NULL,
order_date DATE,
customer_id NUMBER(6),
ship_date DATE,
total NUMBER(8,2));